CROWDS gathered in the sunshine yesterday to watch the annual Veterans Parade in Abergavenny.

Locals looked on with pride as ex-soldiers took part of a parade through the streets, marching from the castle to St Mary's Church, to honour the role those past and present have played in serving their country.

Led by the Abergavenny borough band, members of the Royal British Legion from the town and Abertillery, local army cadets and scout groups headed past Abergavenny Family Church, where people of all aged looked on, via landmarks such as The King's Arms and The Angel Hotel.

Monmouth AM Nick Ramsey joined the mayor of Abergavenny Cllr Jane Fousler and a number of councillors, including Cllr Maureen Powell and Cllr Douglas Edwards, for the service.

In his sermon, Rev John Hughes thanked all those who had attended, on a day which was also helped mark celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion.

"As we remember all those who made the supreme sacrifice to give us freedom, young people who have served in the theatres of war, perhaps we should give them all a round of applause," Rev. Hughes told the congregation.

People responded, and later prayers were said for troops in Afghanistan and those engaged in peace keeping throughout the world.

Chairman of Abergavenny Royal British Legion, John Stockham, a former Welsh Guard, said the local branch and the town council had joined forces to organise the day.

"It's important for the public to see the parade, we have to keep going and support our veterans. It’s been lovely weather," he said.

For standard bearer for the Legion Geoff Nash, 71, of Abertillery, it was the 37th time this year he had been on parade this year - with 18 of those in Wootton Bassett.

He was a corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps, from 1970 to 1983.

Formerly of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, Kim Morgan, 54, added parades help keep the forces in the public eye and the level of patriotism up in the country, which he believes is on the increase at present.